The Conservatives scored an impressive gain in one of the byelections held on 30 July, when John Booth won the Brinsley ward on Broxtowe borough council. The seat had previously been held by Sadie Graham-Single who was elected for the British National Party, but had fallen out with the leadership and was expelled from the party. The Conservatives had not stood in the previous election.

The Liberal Democrats defended their control of Cheltenham borough council by retaining the All Saints ward. Charles Stewart improved the party’s majority. Labour held its seat in Denton North East ward, Tameside borough council where Denise Ward was elected.

There are five party changes to report. Joy Garner (Burslem North ward), who had left Labour on Stoke-on-Trent city council in order to join the all-party cabinet of the council’s Conservative leader Ross Irving on 4 June, has now repented of her actions, resigned from the cabinet and rejoined the Labour group. She had been threatened with expulsion from the Labour Party nationally.

Her Majesty has given her Royal Assent to the Scottish Local Government (Elections) Act 2009, an Act of the Scottish Parliament which extends the term of councillors elected in 2007 to 2012 and provides that councillors elected in 2012 shall serve until 2017.